Plant Archives Vol. 14 No. 1, 2014 pp. 387-391 ISSN 0972-5210

INFLUENCE OF FERTIGATION AND CONSORTIUM OF BIOFERTILIZER ON PHOTOSYNTHESIS, CHLOROPHYLL CONTENT, YIELD PARAMETERS AND YIELD OF BANANA CV. ROBUSTA (AAA)

M. Senthilkumar*, S. Ganesh, K. Srinivas1 and P. Panneerselvam1 Faculty of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Gandhigram Rural Institute, Gandhigram - 624 302, India. 1Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta Lake post, Bangalore - 560 089 (Karnataka), India.

Abstract A study was undertaken to know the combined effects of fertigation and consortium of bio-fertilizers on photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content, yield attributing characters and yield of banana cv Robusta (AAA) at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore in the year 2010. From the results, it was observed that the treatment of 100% recommended dose of fertilizers through fertigation (RDFTF) with 300 g of consortium of biofertilizers (CBF) recorded significantly higher photosynthesis rate, total chlorophyll content, yield attributing characters such as number of leaves, fruit length, circumference, fruit weight, bunch weight compared to 100% recommended dose of fertilizers applied through soil (RDFTS). The treatment of 100% RDFTF with 100,200 & 300 g of CBF have recorded 40 to 48% higher yield than the plants applied with 100% RDF through soil. Besides, the fertigation treatment of 75% RDF and CBF combinations yielded on par with 100 % RDFTF and CBF combinations and also 36 to 43% significantly higher yield than 100 %RDFTS. Similarly 50% RDFTF with CBF combinations have recorded 18 to 21 % increased yield than the soil application of 100% RDF. Key words : Banana, drip irrigation, fertigation, PGPR, Biofertilizers, AM fungi.

Introduction 1996). However, exclusive studies on the beneficial effects of consortium of biofertilizers in banana when Banana (Musa spp) is one of the ancient fruits of combined with fertigation are very meagre. Therefore, the world and known as “Apple of the paradise”. It is the an experiment was conducted by combining consortium cheapest and plentiful fruit. India is the largest producer of biofertilizers with fertigation and the effects were of banana in the world contributing 27 per cent to the studied on the photosynthetic activity, chlorophyll content, global production of banana, with a total production of yield parameters and yield in banana cv Robusta (AAA). 284 lakh tonnes from an area of 7.97 lakh ha (Anon, 2012). Among the desert bananas, Robusta (AAA) Materials and Methods assumes much importance in the international trade. In The study was conducted at the Indian Institute of general Banana, a nutrient lover, requires large quantity Horticultural Research; Bangalore, situated at 13° 58' N of nutrients for its growth and development. It requires and 78°E at an altitude of 890 meters. The soil was acidic large amount of nitrogen and potassium nutrients in reaction and free from excessive salts with organic constituting a considerable part of input cost. In recent carbon content of around 0.92%. It was having a total times bio­fertilizers have emerged as potential nutrient nitrogen of 160 kg ha-1 and the phosphorus, potassium suppliers or mobilizers in various horticultural crops. contents were around of 22 and 232 kg ha-1 respectively. Where as, to derive the maximum benefit of individual The soil was tested for the initial level of microbial biofertilizers, the consortium of bio-fertilizers (combination population (Azospirillum-OAS to 0.22 x 10 4 cfu g-1 of of two or more biofertilizers) is being tried world wide. soil, PSB-0.24 to 0.28 x 104 cfu g-1 of soil and AM fungi The beneficial effects of biofertilizers have been widely 4.3 to 5.2 spores g–1 of soil). reported in banana (Tiwary et al., 1998 and Mohandas, *Author for correspondence:E-mail :[email protected] 388 M. Senthilkumar et al.

The planting material of banana Musa AAA, after planting and at flowering and chlorophyll a and Cavendish sub group cv Robusta consisted, of healthy Chlorophyll b were estimated by following the method of suckers weighing about 0.80 to 1.0 kg each were planted Hiscox and Isrealstam (1979). The total chlorophyll during the first week of January-2010 at a spacing of 1.5 content was arrived by adding the values of chlorophyll a x 1.5 m (4444 plants ha-1) and the ratoon crop was and b. The data were analyzed using Web Agri Stat continued in the year 2011. Single super phosphate, as Package version WASP 1.0. The data were subjected to per the treatment was applied in the pit itself before one way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Treatment planting as a single dose. After fifteen days, the consortium difference was evaluated using least significant difference of biofertilizers having Azospirillum, phosphate solubilising (LSD) at p  0.05. bacteria and AM fungi in equal proportion was incorporated. Three levels of fertigation 100% Results and Discussion Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (RDF) (200 g N, 110 g Photosynthesis -1 -1 P and 200 g K plant crop ), 75% RDF and 50% RDF At 180 days after planting, the treatment of 100% -1 -1 and three levels (100, 200, 300 g plant crop ) of recommended dose of fertilizers through fertigation consortium of biofertilizers (CBF) were combined along (RDFTF) with 300 g of consortium of biofertilizers (CBF) with soil application of recommended dose of fertilizers, recorded significantly higher photosynthetic rate (table apart from one treatment with 15 kg of Farm Yard Manure 1) compared to 100% recommended dose of fertilizers -1 and 300 g of consortium of biofertilizers plant . These through soil (RDFTS). At grand flowering stage also 12 treatment combinations were replicated thrice in a similar trend was observed. This indicates the active role randomized block design. Nitrogen was applied in the of microbes in substituting the required nutrients to the form of calcium ammonium nitrate and Potassium as plants there by the plants applied with consortium of muriate of potash respectively. The fertigation was biofertilizers with fertigation have differed significantly th started from 60 day of planting and given at weekly in fixation of Photosynthesis. This also showed that the intervals up to 320 days. (Reddy et al., 2002). Irrigation applied N,P,K were utilized efficiently by the plants which was given on daily basis replenishing 80% of evaporation resulted in producing maximum photosynthesis (Nalina losses (Hegde and Srinivas, 1991). Any rain, which fell, et al., 2009) in the plants. The higher N incorporation by was deducted from the evaporation but rain in excess of bacterial N2 fixation of PGPR might also have apparently evaporation was disregarded. Two emitters were placed increased the formation of protein and enzyme for better for each plant at equal distance of 30 cm from the pseudo physiological activities. The higher N also might have stem with a discharge rate of 8 litre of water/ hour. All contributed to the formation of chlorophyll, which the suckers were removed periodically until flowering consequently, increased the photosynthetic activity (Mia and one sword sucker per plant was retained for the et al., 2005). Both at six month after planting and ratoon crop. flowering stages, the plants treated with the farm yard The total number of functional leaves produced at manure (FYM) with 300 g of CBF recorded the lowest maturity was recorded and expressed in number. Finger photosynthetic rates. length was measured from the base of the pedicle to the Chlorophyll content tip of the fruit along the convex side and expressed in centimetres. The circumference at mid position of the In the present study, the chlorophyll a, b and total representative fingers was measured using a Vernier chlorophyll content estimated at six months after planting calipers and expressed in centimetres. Ten fruits selected and shooting differed significantly among the treatments randomly were weighed and the average fruit weight (table 1). The plants applied with 100% RDFTF and 300 was recorded. Weight of the bunch was recorded including g of CBF recorded significantly higher chlorophyll content the peduncle measuring 20 cm from the first hand and compared to other treatments but on par with 75% RDF expressed in kilograms. The total number of fingers per and CBF combinations. It was also observed that the bunch were counted and expressed in number. treatments of 75% and 50% RDFTF with CBF combinations too have recorded significantly higher The photosynthetic rate of the plants was measured chlorophyll content at flowering than the 100% at six months after planting and at the time of active recommended dose of fertilizers through soil (RDFJS). flowering stage using LICOR portable photosynthetic Accumulation of more chlorophyll even at reduced rate meter. In each plant the third functional leaf was chosen of in organic fertilizers might me due to the synergetic for measurements (Eckstein and Robinson, 1995). Fresh effect of consortium which facilitated better uptake of leaf sample was taken from each replication at 180 days Fertigation and Consortium of Biofertilizer on Photosynthesis, Chlorophyll Content, Yield Parameters and Yield of Banana 389

Table 1 : Effect of fertigation and consortium of biofertilizers on chlorophyll content and photosynthesis in Banana cv Robusta (AAA). Chlorophyll a Chlorophyll b Total Chlorophyll Photosynthetic rate (mg g-1) (mg g-1) (mg g-1) (µ molCO m-2s-1) Treatment 2 6MAP Shooting 6MAP Shooting 6 MAP Shooting 6MAP Shooting

T1:FYM+ 300 g CBF 0.620 0.770 0.410 0.483 1.03 1.25 12.800 9.450

T2:100 %RDFTF+100 g CBF 0.917 1.190 0.583 0.750 1.50 1.94 19.433 13.020

T3:100%RDFTF+ 200 g CBF 0.887 1.217 0.593 0.743 1.48 1.96 19.520 13.390

T4:100%RDFTF+ 300 g CBF 0.923 1.223 0.617 0.757 1.54 1.98 20.740 13.810

T5:75%RDFTF+100 g CBF 0.870 1.123 0.540 0.737 1.41 1.86 17.460 12.100

T6:75%RDFTF+ 200 g CBF 0.900 1.150 0.550 0.770 1.45 1.92 17.800 12.190

T7:75%RDFTF+ 300 g CBF’ 0.907 1,123 0.573 0.767 1.48 1.89 17.490 13.130

T8:50%RDFTF+ 100 g CBF 0.767 0.897 0.490 0.613 1.26 1.51 14.190 10.340

T9:50%RDFTF+ 200 g CBF 0.807 0.883 0.493 0.647 1.30 1.53 14.840 10.560

T10:50%RDFTF+ 300 g CBF 0.830 0.933 0.480 0.647 1.31 1.58 14.650 10.630

T11:l00°/oRDFTF 0.810 0.913 0.541 0.587 1.35 1.50 16.650 11.750

T12:100% RDF(soil 0.700 0.823 0.411 0.507 1.11 1.33 15.270 10.450 application) S.Em. ± 0.04 0.05 0.03 0.03 0.07 0.08 0.82 0.58 CD(p  0.05) 0.12 0.15 0.07 0.10 0.19 0.24 2.40 1.70 FYM-Farm yard manure, RDFTF-Recommended dose of fertilizer through fertigation, CBF-Consortium of biofertilizers, MAP- Months after planting.

N, P and K by the plant resulted in higher accumulation and Shanmugavelu (1988) reported that both soil and foliar of chlorophyll content. Similar results were observed by application of nitrogen and in combination with Abo El-Ez and Hussein (2003) in banana in a nutrient Azotobacter increased the plant height, plant girth, number trail involving VAM. This was in conformity with Mia et of hands, bunch and number of finger/ hands significantly al. (2010) who observed that inoculation of PGPR bacteria in banana cv. Robusta. Dobbelarere et al., (1999) too significantly increased plant height (42-50%), leaf area suggested that secretions of plant growth promoting (128-134%), leaf chlorophyll content (25- 33%) and total substances such as auxins, gibberellins and cytokinins by dry matter (TDM) (129-176%) in biofertilizer applied the bacteria seem to be responsible for these beneficial plants compared to un inoculated plants in banana. Sarig effects in plants inoculated with consortium of et al. (1988) further suggested that the incorporation of biofertilizers. The increased growth of PGPR inoculated PGPR results in growth promoting effects mainly derived plants might also be due to the higher N accumulation by from morphological and physiological changes in roots bacterial N2 fixation and better root growth, which in and enhancement in water and plant nutrient uptake. turn would have promoted the greater uptake of water Yield parameters and yield and nutrients (Mia et al., 2005). The yield attributing characters such as number of In general, the combined application of consortium leaves, fruit length, circumference and fruit weight were of biofertilizer and inorganic fertilizers through fertigation significantly higher in plants treated with the combination has resulted around. 18 to 48 % increased yield than the of 100% RDFTF and 300 g of CBF compared to plants 100% RDF applied through soil. Farm yard manure applied with 100% RDFTS. Similar trend was observed applied in combination with 300 g of CBF did not influence in the case of fruit length and girth. Where as, the number the yield increase of banana. Much scientific evidence of fruits was observed to be high in plants treated with indicated that AM fungi have significant importance owing 100 % RDFTF and 100 g of CBF. Wange and Patil (1994) to their ability to supplement requirement of fertilizers, found that combined application of Azospirillum, phosphorus and nitrogen and improve crop productivity Azotobacter and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer resulted in in many crop plants. Singh et al. (2003) reported that the taller plants, number of leaves and girth, in bananas combination of inorganic fertilizers with AM fungi showed compared to un-inoculated control. Like wise, Kumar yield optimization in banana, this finding also revealed 390 M. Senthilkumar et al.

Table 2 : Effect of fertigation and consortium of biofertilizers on yield parameters and yield in Banana cv Robusta (AAA). Treatments Leaves at Average Average Average Fruits Average Yield ha-1 maturity fruit fruit fruit bunch-1 bunch (MT) (No.) length circumfe- weight (g) (No.) weight (kg) (cm) rence (cm)

T1:FYM+ 300 g CBF 7.00 18.00 11.21 195.16 62.00 12.10 53.77

T2:100 %RDFTF+100 g CBF 8.95 22.60 13.36 249.06 98.69 24.58 109.23

T3:100%RDFTF+ 200 g CBF 8.95 24.25 13.75 250.89 97.54 24.93 110.92

T4:100%RDFTF+ 300 g CBF 9.27 24.75 14.67 260.84 97.54 25.93 115.23

T5:75%RDFTF+100 g CBF 8.09 22.52 13.64 249.00 95.92 23.87 106.08

T6:75%RDFTF+ 200 g CBF 8.65 23.02 14.44 249.90 93.36 24.25 107.77

T7:75%RDFTF+ 300 g CBF 8.83 23.21 14.50 257.75 94.63 24.86 111.89

T8:50%RDFTF+ 100 g CBF 8.60 20.30 12.13 222.12 90.04 20.72 92.07

T9:50%RDFTF+ 200 g CBF 8.96 20.88 12.40 227.27 91.40 21.15 93.99

T10:50%RDFTF+ 300 g CBF 9.50 21.40 12.28 230.13 91.82 21.45 94.54

T11:100%RDFTF 7.07 21.57 13.17 246.00 93.60 23.00 101.06

T12:100% RDF(Soil application) 7.00 19.10 11.78 230.64 78.90 17.50 77.77 SEm± 0.40 1.06 0.64 11.57 4.28 1.06 4.72 CD(p  0.05) 1.17 3.10 1.87 33.94 12.56 3.10 13.85 FYM-Farm yard manure, RDFTF-Recommended dose of fertilizer through fertigation, CBF-Consortium of biofertilizers, MAP- Months after planting. that optimum banana yield can be obtained with 50 % biofertilizers with various combinations of inorganic saving of phosphorus fertilizer. fertilizers had increased the yield of banana by 18-84 % Among the treatments, 100 % RDFTF with 300 g of over the control and the response was more pronounced CBF has resulted in significantly higher bunch weight when the dose of N was reduced to half. -1 and yield ha . But the difference was not marked between Conclusion the treatments of 75% and 100% RDFTF with CBF combinations. Similarly, the plants given 50% RDFTF The present findings have clearly revealed that the and CBF yielded on par with plants applied 75% RDFTF combined application of fertigation and consortium of and CBF. The yield obtained at 50% RDFTF with CBF biofertilizers significantly enhanced the photosynthesis was also significantly higher than the plants applied with rate, chlorophyll content, yield attributing characters and 100% RDF through soil (table 2). This also demonstrates yield of banana in general compared to un-inoculated the effective role of consortium of biofertlizers in plants. Fertigation with 100% recommended dose of increasing the input use efficiency. Increased fertilizer fertilizers along with consortium of biofertilizers recorded use efficiency and compensation of nutrient requirement significantly higher yield compared to 100% RDF applied might also be due to the interactions of plant roots with through soil. The yield differences was not marked microbes making the nutrients available, there by the between 100% and 75% recommended doses of requirement of nutrients is compensated at the level of fertilizers through fertigation combined with consortium half of the recommended dose. Present findings also of biofertilizers. Similarly 50% RDF through fertigation supported the conclusions of Harinikumari and Bagyaraj with CBF yielded significantly higher than the 100% RDF (1998) that application of half of the recommended level applied through soil, widening the scope of obtaining of chemical fertilizers together with soil conditioners optimum yield in banana even at considerably reduced (organic matter) favoured the build up of native VAM level of inorganic fertilizers through fertigation combined population in subtropical soils. Therefore, their active with consortium of biofertilizers in the near future. association with roots might have afforded more uptake of moisture, increased percent of water and nutrients. Tiwary et al. (1998) also reported that inoculation of Fertigation and Consortium of Biofertilizer on Photosynthesis, Chlorophyll Content, Yield Parameters and Yield of Banana 391

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